Volstorm
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(Legendary Tennessee coach Robert Neyland distilled his theories of football into a series of pithy aphorisms he called his Game Maxims. Some of these date back to his days playing at West Point under the equally legendary Charlie Daly and Pot Graves. The seven Maxims used here are the ones current UT teams recite before taking the field.)
Tennessee vs The Maxims vs UNLV
It was throwback night at Neyland Stadium, sports fans. There were Old School uniforms, lettermen from yesteryear in abundance, and hot dogs from the Mezozoic Era. Tennessees first drive Sunday night looked a throwback as well: a throwback to the 2003 Peach Bowl. The Vols took the opening kickoff, ran three plays for a grand total of five yards then Brent Shaffer was blind-sided by an edge rush and coughed up the ball, putting UNLV in scoring position. Fortunately for the Home Team, a combination of defense and Rebel miscues held UNLV to a field goal. A palpable uh, oh rose from the assembled multitude.
What a difference a coach makes. I dont know for sure what we pay Trooper Taylor, but it isnt enough. Out of the ashes of Tennessees first possession rose a Phoenix Vol fans thought was dead, gone, and buried. Tennessees running backs began to strut their stuff. How long has it been, my friends, since we have seen an orange-clad running back hit holes with authority, run with drive and purpose and FALL FORWARD when hit? Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs combined for 176 net yards. This same combo combined with the rest of the team managed only 95 against Rutgers last year.
Houston would have gone over 100 yards on the evening but went out with an ankle injury. It's unknown how long he'll be out.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
UNLV seemed to follow in the tradition of a great number of Tennessees victims over the years and inexplicably went away from the running game (which was working well) and began to throw the ball around. Thanks. The most egregious of these mistakes was in the third quarter when UNLV was faced with a third-and-two. Instead of giving the ball to Dorsey, who likely would have gained seven or so, the Rebels tossed an incompletion that killed a promising drive.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Tennessee was one-of-two. An errant UNLV throw was intercepted and sparked the Vols third touchdown drive. A later fumble by Dorsey (which throttled a Rebel drive deep in Vol territory) resulted in a missed field goal by Wilhoit.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
In last years Peach Bowl, the Vols had no fire, no desire and would have been more than happy to mail it in after Schaeffers fumble led to UNLVs field goal in the first quarter. Not Sunday night.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Edge rush, dammit, SOMEBODY pick up the EDGE RUSH! The Vols went to a quicker passing game and only gave up one more sack after the aforementioned sack and fumble in the first quarter. I'm sure, though, that David Pollack was watching with interest.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
Too many Rebel receivers were running free for my taste, but with the threat posed by Dorsey its understandable that they over played the run. Tackling sucked, plain and simple. Tim Priest asked one of the linebackers whether the scholarship restrictions had cut down on tackling drills. That question would have been better directed at Chavis.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Dustin Colquitt averaged 51-point-something yards punting including a 60 yard shot that brought rain. Wilhoit gave some cause for concern early when the Vols first kickoff was both low and pooched with the Rebel receiver catching it at about the 15, then splitting the coverage for a return past midfield. The rest of his kickoffs, though, were fine. Tennessees kick receivers seemed to have trouble with the notion that it is actually legal to CATCH the ball.
7. Carry the fight to UNLV and keep it there for sixty minutes.
Tennessee had the game in hand by the end of the first quarter but, unlike previous years, did not suffer a let-down from that success. Too many times in the past, the Vols would jump out early then lose focus and let a lesser opponent back into the game. Not tonight.
To complement Tennessees resurgent ground attack was the play of their two freshman quarterbacks. Rebel coach John Robinson said after the game that, Those two quarterbacks looked like they were each 24 years old. Robinson (who has seen his share of football players) went on to say, Schaeffer looks like a Michael Vick-type guy.
I had a John Ward moment during the game. Watching Rebel tailback Dominique Dorsey run for some of his 121 yards, I could hear Wards call of the play. Elusive, right, Bill Anderson? To which the redoubtable Anderson would reply, Yeah, John, and hes hard to bring down, too.
MAXOMG
© 2004 by OMG
Tennessee vs The Maxims vs UNLV
It was throwback night at Neyland Stadium, sports fans. There were Old School uniforms, lettermen from yesteryear in abundance, and hot dogs from the Mezozoic Era. Tennessees first drive Sunday night looked a throwback as well: a throwback to the 2003 Peach Bowl. The Vols took the opening kickoff, ran three plays for a grand total of five yards then Brent Shaffer was blind-sided by an edge rush and coughed up the ball, putting UNLV in scoring position. Fortunately for the Home Team, a combination of defense and Rebel miscues held UNLV to a field goal. A palpable uh, oh rose from the assembled multitude.
What a difference a coach makes. I dont know for sure what we pay Trooper Taylor, but it isnt enough. Out of the ashes of Tennessees first possession rose a Phoenix Vol fans thought was dead, gone, and buried. Tennessees running backs began to strut their stuff. How long has it been, my friends, since we have seen an orange-clad running back hit holes with authority, run with drive and purpose and FALL FORWARD when hit? Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs combined for 176 net yards. This same combo combined with the rest of the team managed only 95 against Rutgers last year.
Houston would have gone over 100 yards on the evening but went out with an ankle injury. It's unknown how long he'll be out.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
UNLV seemed to follow in the tradition of a great number of Tennessees victims over the years and inexplicably went away from the running game (which was working well) and began to throw the ball around. Thanks. The most egregious of these mistakes was in the third quarter when UNLV was faced with a third-and-two. Instead of giving the ball to Dorsey, who likely would have gained seven or so, the Rebels tossed an incompletion that killed a promising drive.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Tennessee was one-of-two. An errant UNLV throw was intercepted and sparked the Vols third touchdown drive. A later fumble by Dorsey (which throttled a Rebel drive deep in Vol territory) resulted in a missed field goal by Wilhoit.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
In last years Peach Bowl, the Vols had no fire, no desire and would have been more than happy to mail it in after Schaeffers fumble led to UNLVs field goal in the first quarter. Not Sunday night.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Edge rush, dammit, SOMEBODY pick up the EDGE RUSH! The Vols went to a quicker passing game and only gave up one more sack after the aforementioned sack and fumble in the first quarter. I'm sure, though, that David Pollack was watching with interest.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
Too many Rebel receivers were running free for my taste, but with the threat posed by Dorsey its understandable that they over played the run. Tackling sucked, plain and simple. Tim Priest asked one of the linebackers whether the scholarship restrictions had cut down on tackling drills. That question would have been better directed at Chavis.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Dustin Colquitt averaged 51-point-something yards punting including a 60 yard shot that brought rain. Wilhoit gave some cause for concern early when the Vols first kickoff was both low and pooched with the Rebel receiver catching it at about the 15, then splitting the coverage for a return past midfield. The rest of his kickoffs, though, were fine. Tennessees kick receivers seemed to have trouble with the notion that it is actually legal to CATCH the ball.
7. Carry the fight to UNLV and keep it there for sixty minutes.
Tennessee had the game in hand by the end of the first quarter but, unlike previous years, did not suffer a let-down from that success. Too many times in the past, the Vols would jump out early then lose focus and let a lesser opponent back into the game. Not tonight.
To complement Tennessees resurgent ground attack was the play of their two freshman quarterbacks. Rebel coach John Robinson said after the game that, Those two quarterbacks looked like they were each 24 years old. Robinson (who has seen his share of football players) went on to say, Schaeffer looks like a Michael Vick-type guy.
I had a John Ward moment during the game. Watching Rebel tailback Dominique Dorsey run for some of his 121 yards, I could hear Wards call of the play. Elusive, right, Bill Anderson? To which the redoubtable Anderson would reply, Yeah, John, and hes hard to bring down, too.
MAXOMG
© 2004 by OMG
